The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-12-17
THE HAPPIEST MOMENT.
How It Came to the Guests Of a
Christmas Party.

Honor, aged twenty, and her Aunt Mar
garet, aged thirty-eight and unmarried,
maintained themselves by keeping "a morn
ing school for young ladies in Paradise
row, one of the back streets of Camden
Town, London, which consisted of ten mean
little houses. Amt Margaret was the
daughter of the rector of Brayleigh, and
Honor was her sisters child. The sister
had married an artist, and she and her
husband both died when Honor was a mere
baby. Her aunt and grandfather had edu-
Gated her. Soon after the recjor's death
the two ladies were impoverished by the
failure of the bank which contained their
little store of wealth. So the school was
opened, aud they got on fairly well, enjoy
ing their independence, although not in
receipt Of very promising income.
Honor had an uncle-her fathers brother
the rich Mr. Bryson, who, although he
gave them no financial aid, always invited
his niece and her aunt to spend the holidays
at his house. AS the Christmas of 1872
drew near the two impoverished gentle
women began to fix over their bits of finery
an the expectation Of the usual visit to
Uncle Brysou's Instead of the anticipated
lavitation they received very polite note
from Uncle b. saying that 1.-THE coming so
far must have always been tax on them,
therefore he would not again press the in
vitation" He softened the blow with a
check for $50, his best wishes and the com
plimeuts of the season.
There was reason for this beyond what
the two disappointed ladies could dream
of. The Brysons had a manageable
daughter, and there was a certain Sir Ed
ward Dusart who, they thought, was about
ID I, Il
discovered that Honor was much too hand
soma and attractive to have around when
such an important possibility was pending;
aod Sir Edward was to be Christmas
guest. Aunt Margaret had fondly dreamed
that Sir Edward cared for Honor, whom
ne had met more than once at Uncle Bry-
sons. But when she heard that he was
about to propose to Uncle Bryson's
daughter Amelia she hoped that Honor did
not care for him.
The first impulse of Aunt Margaret and
Honor on receiving Uncle Bryson's check
was to send it back. Second thought per-
ssuaded them to keep it and use every penny
of it in giving a Christmas party them
.selves-not party for the rich and pros
porous, nor oven for their financial equals
hut q party for the good and kind among
their neighbors. the inhabitants of Paradise
row, humble souls, to whom all pleasures
wcro rare.
They took Mr.. Redmond, the incumbent
of the new church in their district, into
their confidence, and he was greatly inter.
,ested in the plan, and promised to help.
them all he could. He was the only friend
the two ladies' had made since they went to
Paradise row to whom they could say any
thing about their past lives. He often
looked in upon them after their days worl
was done, and it seemed plain to Aunt
Margaret that he took a great interest il
Honor. Sometimes Aunt Margaret said Il
herself that the match would not be so un
desirable, although he was a widower
with grown.up daughter, and q little too
old for Honor.
They had busy time preparing for the
feast. They felt in duty bound to spent
every penny Of the money. In addition Il
tho supper, every guest was to have I
present, and several sick ones were to hav
presents sent them. They called in "OlC
Mamie" 10 help the maid OF all work ge
5dc feast ready, and, in her language, thu
hOu SO soon "snelt as good as a cook shop
OH Mamie was to be one of the guests a
she Christmas party. She had been il
charge CT tho guardians Of the poor; bu
had managed to have her "lowauces" sen
60 her lowly lodgings, aud never got int